Durham regional police have laid several fraud-related charges against a Georgia man.
The suspect identified by police as Darryl Frank (Buster) Skrine is at the centre of a complex fraud investigation involving numerous financial institutions across the country.
Investigators with the financial crimes unit say they became aware of a man who was attending a number of banks, where he would identify himself as a retired NFL player. Sgt. Joanne Bortoluss with Durham Regional Police says It’s alleged he would open bank accounts with fraudulent cheques.
“Four banks across the region between the banks and credit unions had called and let them know a male was entering the bank, identifying himself as a retired football player,” she said.
They say he defrauded banks more than $100,000 between September of last year and July of this year. It’s alleged he would open an account with a fraudulent cheque and obtain cash before the cheque was cleared by the bank.
Police say there is reason to believe the same man has been committing similar offences across the country.
“Now the investigation has led us to believe that this may have taken place at various institutions across Canada,” says Bortoluss.
The financial crimes unit is now working with a number of jurisdictions, including Toronto and Regina’s Police services. Fraud investigators arrested the man at Toronto Pearson International Airport Wednesday night as he was attempting to fly back to the United States. This was in collaboration with Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Peel Regional Police.
Skrine, 34, has been charged with four counts of fraud over $5,000, seven counts of making a false statement to procure money and several others.
He was held for a bail hearing.
Skrine played for a number of teams between 2011 and 2021, including the Chicago Bears and the Cleveland Browns.
Anyone with information that could help the investigation is asked to call Det. Const. Kane of the financial crimes unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5371.
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